Optical fiber ferrule and optical fiber connector

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of this application provide an optical fiber ferrule, where n rows of optical fiber holes are symmetrically distributed on a mating end face of the ferrule, n&gt;=3, and n is an odd number. Based on the layout design of optical fiber holes on the optical fiber ferrule, this application provides an optical fiber connector that includes a plurality of rows of optical fiber holes and that is compatible with one row and a relatively small number of rows of optical fiber holes, so that an optical fiber connector with a large number of cores can be forward compatible with an optical fiber connector with a small number of cores, thereby improving expandability and compatibility of the optical fiber ferrule.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.17/037,355, filed on Sep. 29, 2020, which is a continuation ofInternational Application No. PCT/CN2019/081633, filed on Apr. 6, 2019,which claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201820658536.6,filed on May 4, 2018. All of the afore-mentioned patent applications arehereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application relates to the field of communications technologies,and in particular, to an optical fiber ferrule and an optical fiberconnector.

BACKGROUND

In the all-optical network connection, as the data transmission rate andthe bandwidth are increasing, the requirement for the number of opticalfiber connector cores becomes higher. A multi-core pluggable opticalfiber connector commonly used in the art is a Multi-fiber Push On (MPO)optical fiber connector. Generally, 12-core optical fibers are arrangedin a row to support one or more rows of optical fibers in the sameconnector, and are commonly used in high-density optical fiberconnection systems. The Monolithic Ferrule (MT) ferrule is a corecomponent in an MPO connector and is a mechanical docking transmissionferrule. The ferrule is multi-core and includes one or more rows ofoptical fiber holes for connecting and transmitting optical signals.

With the increasing demand for MPO connectors and MT ferrule fibercores, the number of cores in MT ferrule fibers in the industrycurrently evolves from 12 cores to 24 cores and then to 48 cores or from16 cores to 32 cores. However, because the MT ferrule with a largenumber of fiber cores is incompatible with the MT ferrule with a smallnumber of fiber cores, the future-generation products are incompatiblewith the previous-generation products.

SUMMARY

An embodiment of this application provides an optical fiber connector,which has high expandability and compatibility, and allows an opticalfiber connector with a greater number of cores to be forward compatiblewith an optical fiber connector with a smaller number of cores.

According to one aspect, this application provides an optical fiberferrule, where n rows of optical fiber holes are distributed on a matingend face of the ferrule, n>=3; and the mating end face of the ferrule isprovided with two guide holes, and a center-connecting line between theguide holes is provided with a row of optical fiber holes.

In an embodiment, one of the n rows of optical fiber holes isdistributed on the center-connecting line between the guide holes, andthe other rows are symmetrically distributed on both sides of thecenter-connecting line.

In an embodiment, n=5, n=7, or n=9.

According to another aspect, this application provides an optical fiberferrule, where n rows of optical fiber holes are distributed on a matingend face of the ferrule, n>=3, and n is an odd number; and the matingend face of the ferrule is provided with two guide holes, and acenter-connecting line between the guide holes is provided with a row ofoptical fiber holes.

In an embodiment, one of the n rows of optical fiber holes isdistributed on the center-connecting line between the guide holes, andthe other rows are symmetrically distributed on both sides of thecenter-connecting line.

In an embodiment, n=5, n=7, or n=9.

In an embodiment, a center distance between every two adjacent rows ofoptical fiber holes is 0.25 mm.

In an embodiment, the guide hole is 0.69 mm or 0.50 mm.

In an embodiment, there are 12 optical fiber holes in each odd row.

In an embodiment, there are 16 optical fiber holes in each odd row.

According to another aspect, this application provides an optical fiberferrule, where n rows of optical fiber holes are symmetricallydistributed on a mating end face of the ferrule, n>=3, and n is an evennumber; and the n rows of optical fiber holes are arranged parallel toeach other.

In an embodiment, the n rows of optical fiber holes are symmetricallydistributed on both sides of the center-connecting line between theguide holes.

In an embodiment, n=2, n=4, n=6, or n=8.

According to another aspect, this application provides an optical fiberconnector, where the optical fiber connector includes the optical fiberferrule according to any of the foregoing implementations.

Based on the layout design of optical fiber holes on the optical fiberferrule, this application provides an optical fiber connector thatincludes a plurality of rows of optical fiber holes and that iscompatible with one row and a relatively small number of rows of opticalfiber holes, so that an optical fiber connector with a large number ofcores can be forward compatible with an optical fiber connector with asmall number of cores, thereby improving product expandability andcompatibility.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 a is a schematic diagram showing an arrangement of a group ofoptical fiber holes in a conventional optical fiber ferrule;

FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram showing an arrangement of another groupof optical fiber holes in a conventional optical fiber ferrule;

FIG. 1 c is a schematic diagram showing an arrangement of still anothergroup of optical fiber holes in a conventional optical fiber ferrule;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an arrangement of optical fiberholes in an optical fiber ferrule according to an embodiment of thisapplication;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing compatibility of an optical fiberferrule according to an embodiment of this application;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an arrangement of optical fiberholes in another optical fiber ferrule according to an embodiment ofthis application;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an arrangement of optical fiberholes in another optical fiber ferrule according to an embodiment ofthis application;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an arrangement of optical fiberholes in another optical fiber ferrule according to an embodiment ofthis application;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing compatibility of an optical fiberferrule according to an embodiment of this application; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic structural diagram showing an optical fiberconnector according to an embodiment of this application.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 a shows 12-core and 24-core MT ferrules in the prior art, wherethe 12-core MT ferrule is a first-generation product, and the 24-core MTferrule is used when a subsequent product transmits a large amount ofdata. The ferrule s in FIG. 1 a have the following problem: Thesubsequent 24-core ferrule features a symmetric distribution and isincompatible with a 12-core ferrule, so that the subsequent products areincompatible with the first-generation product.

FIG. 1B shows 12-core, 24-core, and 48-core MT ferrule in the prior art,where the 12-core and 24-core MT ferrules are first-generation products,and the 48-core MT ferrule is used when a subsequent product transmits alarge amount of data. The ferrules in FIG. 1B also have the foregoingproblem: The subsequent 48-core ferrule features a symmetricdistribution and is incompatible with a 12-core ferrule; in addition,the industry's common 48-core spacing is inconsistent with the 24-corespacing and is incompatible with the 24-core ferrule, so that thesubsequent product is incompatible with the first-generation products.

FIG. 1 c shows 12-core, 16-core, and 32-core MT ferrules in the priorart, where the 12-core MT ferrule is a first-generation product, and the16-core or 32-core MT ferrule is used when a subsequent producttransmits a large amount of data. The ferrule s in FIG. 1 c have thefollowing problem: The diameter of each guide hole of the 16-core and32-core MT ferrules is 0.5 mm, and the diameter of each guide hole ofthe 12-core MT ferrule is 0.6990 mm; because of the different diametersof the guide holes, the 16-core and 32-core MT ferrules are incompatiblewith the 12-core MT ferrule. In addition, because the 32-core MT ferrulefeatures a symmetric distribution, the 32-core MT ferrule isincompatible with the 16-core MT ferrule. Consequently, the 32-core MTferrule is incompatible with the 12-core and 16-core MT ferrules, andsubsequent products are incompatible with the first-generation product.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an arrangement of optical fiber holesin an optical fiber ferrule according to an embodiment of thisapplication. As shown in FIG. 2 , the optical fiber ferrule includesthree rows of through-going optical fiber holes on the mating end face,and the optical fiber ferrule is compatible with the optical fiberferrules with one and two rows of optical fiber holes in FIG. 3 . Theoptical fiber ferrule with one row/two rows of optical fiber holes inFIG. 3 may be a 12-core/24-core MT ferrule in the prior art, or may bean optical fiber ferrule with one row/two rows of optical fiber holes ofanother specification. That is, to ensure that the optical fiber ferrulewith three rows of optical fiber roles in FIG. 2 is compatible with theoptical fiber ferrule with one or two rows of optical fiber holes inFIG. 3 , the distance C between the upper center-connecting line (thatis, the center-connecting line of the upper row of optical fiber holesand the guide hole in the upper row) and the lower center-connectingline (that is, the center-connecting line of the lower row of opticalfiber holes and the guide hole in the lower row), the distance B betweenevery two adjacent optical fiber holes, and the number of optical fiberholes in each row are designed to correspond to the optical fiberferrule with two rows of optical fiber holes; and the position and thedistance between the optical fiber holes in the center-connecting lineof the guide hole, and the number of optical fiber holes in each row maybe designed to correspond to the optical fiber ferrule with one row ofoptical fiber holes; and the diameter D of the guide hole and thediameter A of the optical fiber hole are matched.

In one embodiment, when the MT ferrule with three rows of optical fiberholes in FIG. 2 needs to be compatible with the 12-core and 24-core MTferrules in the prior art, the diameter of the guide hole may be set to0.6990 mm, and the center distance between every two adjacent rows ofoptical fiber holes may be set to half of that of the 24-core MTferrule, that is, 0.25 mm. The diameter of the optical fiber hole andthe distance between every two adjacent optical fiber holes in the samerow are the same as those of the 12-core and 24-core MT ferrules. Thenumber of optical fiber holes in each row is 12, and the three rows ofoptical fiber holes are symmetrically distributed along the center axisof the guide holes. In addition, the optical fiber holes aresymmetrically distributed along the mid-perpendicular of the center axisof the guide holes.

The foregoing description is only a specific example. Values such as thenumber of optical fiber holes in each row, the diameter of the guidehole, the center distance between every two adjacent rows of opticalfiber holes, and the distance between the holes in the same row, can beset to values different from the foregoing values as required, so as toensure compatibility with the desired optical fiber ferrule.

The optical fiber ferrule in FIG. 2 may be formed through injectionmolding.

According to the foregoing optical fiber ferrule having three rows ofthrough-going optical fiber holes, when the first-generation productuses an optical fiber ferrule with one or two rows of optical fiberholes to reduce costs, the second-generation product can select anoptical fiber ferrule with three rows of optical fiber holes shown inFIG. 2 based on the performance requirements, so as to ensure forwardcompatibility and improve product competitiveness.

In addition to the optical fiber ferrule with three rows of opticalfiber holes in FIG. 2 , when the transmission rate and bandwidthrequirements become higher, optical fiber ferrules with five, seven, andnine rows of optical fiber holes (which are respectively shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 5 , and FIG. 6 ) and even a greater odd number of rows of opticalfiber holes can be designed in this embodiment of this application, toensure forward compatibility with other ferrules. For example, theoptical fiber ferrule with nine rows of optical fiber holes shown inFIG. 5 is compatible with the optical fiber ferrules with one, two,three, five, and seven rows of optical fiber holes.

The diameter of the guide hole, the diameter of the optical fiber hole,and the inter-row center distance, and the distance between every twoadjacent optical fiber holes in the same row are similar to those inFIG. 2 c ; and the corresponding parameters of the ferrule are set basedon the diameter of the guide hole, the diameter of the optical fiberhole, and the inter-row center distance, and the distance between everytwo adjacent optical fiber holes in the same row.

Likewise, the optical fiber ferrule may be formed through injectionmolding.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing compatibility of an optical fiberferrule according to an embodiment of this application. The opticalfiber ferrule with a plurality of optical fiber holes according to thisapplication is forward compatible: The optical fiber ferrule with threerows of optical fiber holes is compatible with the optical fiber ferrulewith one or two rows of optical fiber holes; the optical fiber ferrulewith five rows of optical fiber holes is compatible with the opticalfiber ferrule with one, two, or three rows of optical fiber holes; theoptical fiber ferrule with seven rows of optical fiber holes iscompatible with the optical fiber ferrule with one, two, three, or fiverows of optical fiber holes; and the optical fiber ferrule with ninerows of optical fiber holes is compatible with the optical fiber ferrulewith one, two, three, five, or seven rows of optical fiber holes. Forexample, using the optical fiber ferrule with 12 optical fiber roles ineach row as an example, the 36-core solution is fully compatible withthe 12-core or 24-core optical fiber ferrule; the 60-core solution iscompatible with the 12-core, 24-core, or 36-core optical fiber ferrule;the 84-core solution is compatible with the 12-core, 24-core, 36-core,or 60-core optical fiber ferrule; and the 108-core solution iscompatible with the 12-core, 24-core, 36-core, 60-core, and 84-coreoptical fiber ferule. The optical fiber ferrule with 12 optical fiberholes in each row is merely an example. The optical fiber ferrule may bedesigned to provide 16 or another number of optical fiber holes in eachrow as required.

In addition to the foregoing compatibility, the optical fiber ferrulewith five rows of optical fiber holes may be compatible with the opticalfiber ferrule with two or four rows of optical fiber holes by settingthe inter-row distance; the optical fiber ferrule with seven rows ofoptical fiber rows may be compatible with the optical fiber ferrule withtwo, four, or six rows of optical fiber holes by setting the inter-rowdistance; and the optical fiber ferrule with nine rows of optical fiberrows may be compatible with the optical fiber ferrule with two, four,six, or eight rows of optical fiber holes by setting the inter-rowdistance.

In addition to the foregoing embodiments, the optical fiber ferrule ofthis application may be designed to be an optical fiber ferrule with aneven number of rows of optical fiber holes that are symmetricallydistributed in parallel. For example, for the optical fiber ferrule withtwo, four, six, or eight rows of optical fiber holes, the centerdistances between every two adjacent rows of optical fiber holes in theoptical fiber ferrules with different numbers of rows of optical fiberholes are the same or match with each other, and the rows of opticalfiber holes are symmetrically distributed along the center-connectingline of the guide holes, so that the optical fiber ferrule with an evennumber of optical fiber holes is forward compatible, for example, theoptical fiber ferrule with eight rows of optical fiber holes iscompatible with the optical fiber ferrule with two, four, or six rows ofoptical fiber holes.

FIG. 8 is a schematic structural diagram showing an optical fiberconnector according to an embodiment of this application. As shown inFIG. 8 , the optical fiber connector includes a housing whose front endis a plug end, and in the housing, an optical fiber ferrule with guideholes or guide pins are fastened using a fastening member. The ferrulein the connector is the optical fiber ferrule mentioned in the foregoingembodiments of this application, and is configured to connect to aplurality of rows of optical fiber holes, to transmit optical signals.The ferrule is forward compatible with the previous-generation productswith a smaller number of rows of optical fiber holes.

The foregoing design mode can ensure that the product is forwardcompatible and improves product competitiveness. The previous-generationproduct can use an MT ferrule with a smaller number of rows of opticalfiber holes to reduce costs, and the next-generation product can selectan optical fiber ferrule with a greater number of rows of optical fiberholes based on the performance requirements to be compatible with theprevious-generation product, thereby ensuring forward compatibility andimproving product competitiveness.

1. An optical fiber ferrule, comprising a mating end face; and aplurality of rows of optical fiber holes symmetrically distributed onthe mating end face of the optical fiber ferrule, wherein a number ofthe plurality of rows of the optical fiber holes is n, wherein n>=3,wherein n is an odd number, wherein the plurality of rows of the opticalfiber holes are arranged parallel to each other, wherein the mating endface of the optical fiber ferrule includes two guide holes, and whereina first row of the plurality of rows of the optical fiber holes isdistributed on a center-connecting line between the two guide holes,wherein rows of the plurality of rows of optical fiber holes other thanthe first row are symmetrically distributed on both sides of thecenter-connecting line between the two guide holes, and wherein theoptical fiber ferrule is configured to be fastened to a second opticalfiber ferrule, the second optical fiber ferrule comprising a secondmating end face and a second row of optical fiber holes which isdistributed on the center-connecting line between the two guide holes.2. The optical fiber ferrule according to claim 1, wherein a centerdistance between every two adjacent rows of the plurality of rows of theoptical fiber holes is 0.25 mm.
 3. The optical fiber ferrule accordingto claim 1, wherein the diameter of each guide hole is 0.6990 mm.
 4. Theoptical fiber ferrule according to claim 1, wherein the odd numberincludes
 3. 5. The optical fiber ferrule according to claim 1, whereinthe odd number includes
 5. 6. The optical fiber ferrule according toclaim 1, wherein each row of the plurality of rows of the optical fiberholes comprises 12 optical fiber holes.
 7. The optical fiber ferruleaccording to claim 1, wherein each row of the plurality of rows of theoptical fiber holes comprises 16 optical fiber holes.
 8. An opticalfiber connector, comprising a housing having a front end, the front endbeing a plug end, the housing including an optical fiber ferruleincluding a mating end face and a plurality of rows of optical fiberholes symmetrically distributed on the mating end face of the opticalfiber ferrule, wherein a number of the plurality of rows of the opticalfiber holes is n, wherein n>=3, wherein n is an odd number, wherein theplurality of rows of the optical fiber holes are arranged parallel toeach other; wherein the mating end face of the optical fiber ferruleincludes two guide holes, and wherein a first row of the plurality ofrows of the optical fiber holes is distributed on a center-connectingline between the two guide holes, wherein rows of the plurality of rowsof optical fiber holes other than the first row are symmetricallydistributed on both sides of the center-connecting line between the twoguide holes, and wherein the optical fiber ferrule is configured to befastened to a second optical fiber ferrule, the second optical fiberferrule comprising a second mating end face and a second row of opticalfiber holes which is distributed on the center-connecting line betweenthe two guide holes.
 9. The optical fiber connector according to claim8, wherein a center distance between every two adjacent rows of theplurality of rows of the optical fiber holes is 0.25 mm.
 10. The opticalfiber connector according to claim 8, wherein the diameter of each guidehole is 0.6990 mm.
 11. The optical fiber connector according to claim 8,wherein the odd number includes
 3. 12. The optical fiber connectoraccording to claim 8, wherein the odd number includes
 5. 13. The opticalfiber connector according to claim 8, wherein each row of the pluralityof rows of the optical fiber holes comprises 12 optical fiber holes. 14.The optical fiber ferrule according to claim 8, wherein each row of theplurality of rows of the optical fiber holes comprises 16 optical fiberholes.
 15. An optical fiber connector system comprising: a first opticalfiber ferrule comprising a first mating end face and a first pluralityof rows of optical fiber holes symmetrically distributed on the firstmating end face, wherein a number of the first plurality of rows of theoptical fiber holes is n, wherein n>=3, wherein n is an odd number, andwherein the first plurality of rows of the optical fiber holes arearranged parallel to each other; the first mating end face of the firstoptical fiber ferrule includes two guide holes, and wherein a first rowof the first plurality of rows of the optical fiber holes is distributedon a center-connecting line between the two guide holes; and a secondoptical fiber ferrule fastened to the first optical fiber ferrule, thesecond optical fiber ferrule comprising a second mating end face and asecond row of optical fiber holes which is distributed on thecenter-connecting line between the two guide holes; wherein a firstarrangement of the first plurality of rows of optical fiber holes of thefirst optical fiber ferrule is compatible with the second row of opticalfiber holes.
 16. The optical fiber connector system according to claim15, wherein a center distance between every two adjacent rows of theplurality of rows of the optical fiber holes is 0.25 mm.
 17. The opticalfiber connector system according to claim 15, wherein the diameter ofeach guide hole is 0.6990 mm.
 18. The optical fiber connector systemaccording to claim 15, wherein the odd number includes
 3. 19. Theoptical fiber connector system according to claim 15 wherein each row ofthe first plurality of rows of the optical fiber holes and the secondrow of the optical fiber holes comprises 12 optical fiber holes or eachrow of the first plurality of rows of the optical fiber holes and thesecond of row of the optical fiber holes comprises 16 optical fiberholes.
 20. The optical fiber connector system according to claim 15,wherein rows of the first plurality of rows of optical fiber holes otherthan the first row are symmetrically distributed on both sides of thecenter-connecting line between the two guide holes.